Coin controlled card display device



Jan. 14, 1964 R. FORRESTER COIN CONTROLLED CARD DISPLAY DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 9, 1961 Jan. 14, 1964 Filed March 9, 1961 L. R. FORRESTER COIN CONTROLLED CARD DISPLAY DEVICE III Z ma 122 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Tlq- 4- INVENTOR 150M420 X. [02055 new 4 ATTORNEYS Jan. 14, 1964 R. FORRESTER 3,117,664

COIN CONTROLLED CARD DISPLAY DEVICE Filed March 9, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR sewn/Pa 7?. FOR/Q58 r52 I ATTORNEYS .Jan. 14, 1964 L. R. FORRESTER com CONTROLLED CARD DISPLAY DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 9, 1961 United States Patent ie-ml 3,117,664 COIN CGNTROLLED CARD Didi- LAY DEVECE Leonard R. Forrester, 687 Havel-d Ava, Winter Parlz, Fla. Filed Mar. 9, 1961, Ser. No. 94,551 15 Claims. (fill. 194-61) The present invention relates to a coin controlled display device for advertising cards, message cards or the like.

Some of the objects of the present invention are to provide a new and improved card display device, which is comparatively small and designed to be set up in conjunction with similar card display devices into a compact bank assembly; which is coin operated and controlled in such a way as to effect the display of a card for advertis ng or any other purpose for any coin selected period; which is automatically operable at the end of any preselected period to withdraw the advertising card from observation and to lock the device against further display operation until the next coin operating cycle is initiated; and which is designed to permit any number of such display devices to be respectively controlled for any coin selected periods from a single timing device.

In accordance with certain features or" the present invention, the card display device is coin controlled and when a coin of predetermined denomination is inserted into the device and a lever is operated, it sets the device for a predetermined period of operation and at the same time releases the device to permit a display card to be inserted therein. A number of coins of such denomination may be deposited in the device, and the device will operate for a successive number of such periods corresponding in number to the number of coins deposited to maintain the card on display for those successive periods. At the end of these successive periods, the display device will operate automatically to withdraw the displayed card fr in observation and to lock the device against display use until another coin has been deposited.

This invention advantageously does not use a clock type escapement mechanism for controlling the timing of the display periods, but rather employs a positively driven time accumulator wheel that is positively rotated away from a zero position to an extent determined by the number of coins deposited. A normally dormant device is employed to positively drive this wheel in the return direction, with latter device being operative at predetermined intervals, with each interval being less than the predetermined period bought by each coin.

Various other objects and features of the invention are apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of a bank of card display devices embodying the present invention;

FlG. 2 is a section of the display device taken on lines 22 of PEG. 1 and showing the device in full lines at the instant a coin is deposited therein to initiate a card display period and shown in dot and dash lines at the end of a coin paid timing period;

PEG. 3 is a section of the display device taken on lines 33 or" l and shown in full lines before a coin is deposited;

PEG. 4 is a fragment of FIG. 3 but showing the display device after the coin has been inserted and the timing cycle for the operation of the device has been initiated;

PEG. 5 is a section of the display device taken on lines 5-5 of FIGS. 2 and 3;

PEG. 6 is a section of the display device taken on lines 66 of FIG. 5;

l lG. 7 is a top plan View of a part of the display device but shown after the coin has been deposited and the device "ice has been released and set up for the insertion of a display card therein;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view corresponding to that of FIG. 7 but showing the display device after the display device has been manually locked against insertion or withdrawal of the display card for the period corresponding to the number of coins deposited;

FIG. 9 is a section of the display device taken on lines 99 of PEG. 5 and shown at the instant a display card is being automatically ejected at the end of a coin paid timing period;

FIG. 10 is a section of the display device similar to that of PEG. 9, but showing the display card in display position;

FIG. 11 is a section of the display device taken on lines ll-ii of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is a detail section of the display device taken on lines l2l2 of FIG. 6.

ferring to the drawings, there is shown a bank of cart. display devices 19 of generally rectangular form, stacked and arranged in easily accessible position in a public place, as for example, in a supermarket or the like, by means of a support structure 11 for display and coin deposit operations. Each of these devices It includes a frame 12 supporting the movable parts of the device and an outer casing or housing 13, having a front wall 14 with a window 15 covered with a pane of glass 16 and side walls 17 and 18. The housing 13 is desirably open at the top except for flanges 2d at the upper ends or" the housing walls 14-, 17 and 18, and is desirably open at the bottom except for flanges 22 at the lower ends of said housing walls. This open structure of the housing 123 permits the cards ejected from the device it? in a bank stack of said devices to fall into a collecting bin or drawer 25 at the bottom of said device, as shown in PEG. 1.

The operable part of the display device Ill is secured to the housing 13. For that purpose, this operable part of the display device is mounted on a base plate 3i forming part of the frame 12 and carrying a rectangular window frame 31, which is secured to said base plate and which is adapted to extend along and around the window 15 in the front housing wall 14. Secured to the flanges 22 of the housing walls 17 and 13 are wooden slats or bars 32 and seated and secured to these bars are the base plate 36 and the one side or" the window frame 31.

The top horizontal piece 33 of the window frame 31 has a slit 34 (E65. 6, 7 and 8) through which a card may be inserted for display through the window 15 and carries a gate 35 operable edgewise across said slit, in a manner to be described, for controlling the opening and closing of said slit. The window frame 31 also carries on one side thereof a flap 36 (FIGS. 5, 9 and 10) for automatically ejecting the card at the termination of a coin-paid period, as will be more fully described.

The operable parts of the display device comprise a coin mechanism which may be of any well-known construction and which in the form shown comprises a coin chute (FIGS. 2, 5 and 6) extending through the front housing wall 14 in accessible position to receive a coin and leading to a coinway is through which the coins are coursed on their way to a hopper 47 leading to the corresponding collection bin 25. This coinway 45 is defined between two spaced stationary plates 33 and 49 aiiixed to the base plate 30 by a bracket 5t forming a lower extension of the outer plate 49 the inner plate 3 having a bearing sleeve extension 51 for a shaft 52. Between these plates 48 and $9 is a coin transfer disc 53, affixed to the shaft 52 for rotation th rewith, and having a pocket 54 for receiving the coin from the chute 45'. ee FEGURE 2v Secured to the shaft 52 is a lever 55 extending through an opening 56 in the front housing wall 14 in accessible position for manual operation. The shaft 52 is ordinarily locked against rotation beyond a certain position in the absence of a coin in the coinway 46 and for that purpose, the two plates 48 and 4-9 have aligned holes 57 and 53, smaller in diameter than the size of the coin for which the coin mechanism is designed and normally blocked by an imperforate part of the disc 53. Secured to the inner plate 48 is a spring-leaf 59 carrying a detent passing through the inner hole 57 and against the imperforate part of the disc 53. When the coin transfer disc 53 carrying no coin is turned through the operation of the lever 55 from inoperative position shown in FIG. 2 counterclockwise, the pocket 54 in said disc will eventually reach the holes 57 and 53, causing the detent 63, which has been pressing through the hole 57 against the imperforate part of the disc, to move outwardly in the hole 58 of the outer fixed plate 48 and to block thereby further rotation of said disc counterclockwise. However, if the pocket 54 of the coin transfer disc 53 does contain a coin, the coin upon rotation of the disc counterclockwise, will pass through the region of the fixed holes 57 and 53, and will block outward movement of the spring-pressed detent 6% through the hole 58, thereby permitting the disc to continue its counterclockwise rotation, FIG. 2, until the disc discharges the coin and the actuating lever 55 reaches a predetermined stop position at the end of a stroke.

For discharging the coin from the coin transfer disc 53, the outer plate 49 has a hole '61 beyond the hole 58 large enough to permit the coin to fall out from the pocket 54 of the disc 53 into the hopper 47 below said hole. The means for stopping the coin transfer disc 53 when it reaches the predetermined position after rotating counterclockwise (FIG. 2).

The lever 55 is spring-pressed towards raised inoperative position shown in FIG. 2 by means of a coil spring 65, FIG. 2, and a complete swing of the lever is assured by a mechanism comprising a ratchet 66 rigid with the lever 55 ior angular movement therewith about the axis of the shaft 52 and a pawl 67 pivotally mounted on the outer plate 49 and spring-pressed into radial position shown in FIG. 2 in the path of the ratchet. When the lever 55 is swung downwardly counterclockwise (FIG. 2), the ratchet rotates counterclockwise and passes by the pawl 67, while the pawl falls into mesh with successive teeth of the ratchet. However, if the lever 55 is released before the ratchet 66 is passed beyond the pawl 67, the pawl extending into an interdental space of the ratchet will lock said ratchet against rotation clockwise, since the force from the ratchet is applied to the pawl along its length. The only way the lever 55 can be released is to first rotate the ratchet counterclockwise beyond the .pawl 67. On return clockwise movement of the ratchet 66 under the influence of the spring 65, the ratchet will pass freely by the pawl 67, while said pawl will ride idly over the moving ratchet. A stop 63 on the plate 49 engaged by the ratchet 66 limits the raised inoperative position of the lever 55 shown in FIG. 2.

In the operation of the display device, a positively iven time storage wheel 70 is provided, which is turned forward in one direction one angular increment for every deposition of a coin and every corresponding actuation of the lever 55 through a stroke, and which can be rotated through a successive number of such angular increments upon deposition of a corresponding number of coins and the actuations of the lever through corresponding strokes. The time accumulator wheel 70 is rotated back in the opposite direction automatically by a timing device that advantageously does not use a clock type escapement mechanism. Latter device operates at predetermined time intervals through predetermined angular increments, to subtract these increments from the amount of rotation stored in the wheel, until the full time stored has been consumed. When the full time paid for has been consumed, the subtracting action of the timing device described will cause the display card to be ejected from view, in the manner to be described, and the display device to be blocked against further display operation. The display device will remain in this deactivated condition until set up again by the deposition of fresh coins and the corresponding actuations of the lever 55.

The time storage wheel 7% is shown in the form of a ratchet wheel journalled on the fixed bearing sleeve 51 for rotation thereabout, as shown in FlG. 5, but yieldably held against free rotation by a brake roller 71 mounted on the free end of a spring arm 72 secured to the base plate 3%. The roller '71. spring-pressed against the teeth of the ratchet wheel 7t? yieldably resists rotation of the wheel.

For turning the time storing ratchet wheel 7% counterclockwise (FIG. 2) an angular increment upon deposition of a coin into the display device and upon actuation of' the lever 55 counterclockwise through one stroke, there is provided a pawl lever 74 (FIGS. 3, 4 and 5) radially secured to the shaft 52 for rotation therewith and pivotally carrying a pawl 75 at its radially outer end springpressed radially inwardly. An adjustable sector-shape increment control plate 76 for predetermining the angular increment of rotation of the time storing ratchet 70 for each stroke of the lever 55, has a hub embracing the bearing sleeve 51 and atfixed thereto by a set screw 77, permitting the angular position of the increment control plate to be set. The diameter of this control plate 76 is greater than that of the ratchet wheel 70, so that the pawl 75 normally bears against the outer arcuate edge of the control plate and is thereby held away from the teeth of the ratchet wheel 7%, as shown in PEG. 3. Upon clockwise rotation (FIG. 3) of the lever 55 from initial position shown in FIG. 3 through a full angular stroke, which in the specific form illustrated in the drawings, is about 80, the pawl 75 moving in the same direction, will ride on the edge of the increment control plate 76 and out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 70, until the pawl reaches the end of the control plate. Thereafter, the pawl 75 will fall 01? the control plate 76 and move by spring action into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 7%. Continued rotation of the lever 55 through the remainder of its stroke will cause the ratchet wheel 70 to be rotated a corresponding angular increment by the engagement of the pawl 75 with the teeth of said ratchet wheel, as shown in FIG. 4. The extent of rotation of the ratchet wheel 70 for each complete stroke of the lever 55, therefore, depends on the angular position of the increment control plate 76. i

The drawings, for the purpose of illustration, show an angular increment of rotation of the ratchet wheel 70 for each coin deposited and for the corresponding actuation of the lever 55 through a stroke, to correspond to the distance of four teeth on said wheel, but this increment, of course, would vary according to the timing cycle required, and could be selectively adjusted, according to the angular position of the control plate 76. For an actual commercial embodiment, for example, the ratchet wheel 70 could have at least teeth, a less number being shown in the drawings only to facilitate illustration, and the increment control plate 76 could be adjusted to rotate the ratchet wheel an angular distance of four teeth, for each coin deposited. A timing device of the normally dormant type could operate to set back the ratchet wheel 7%} one tooth every six hours, so that each coin deposited will activate the display device for one day of display service. With this arrangement, a purchaser of display time could deposit as much as thirty coins in one series of coin depositing operations and could thereby store up display space for thirty days. With this timing schedule, even though a coin will theoretically buy display time for a period of twenty-four hours, the maximum amount of time lost to the buyer of display space because of the insertion of a coin at a period between signal impulses of the timing device 102 is six hours.

T he ratchet wheel 7% can be rotated for display storage time only about one revolution through an angular distance, for example, encompassed by 120 ratchet teeth, from the initial position shown in FIG. 3 by any one series of coin depositing operations. Stop means to be described prevents the ratchet wheel '79 from being rotated more than about one revolution.

For subtracting angular increments from the ratchet wheel 7%) at time intervals for the purpose described, there is provided a solenoid 99 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 6) secured to the base plate 3 by a bracket 91 and having a vertical plunger 92 secured to a rod 93 having a pivotal connection to one end of a pawl lever 94, the other end having a hub journalled on the fixed sleeve 51 for rotation thereabout. This pawl lever 94 is urged against a stop 95 on a fixed plate 96 by means of a spring 97 and is turned counterclockwise (FIG. 3) upon energization of the solenoid 9%? against the action of said spring. A pawl is pivotally mounted on the pawl lever 94 and is urged by a spring 100 against the edge of the plate 96 for an idler part of the subtracting movement of the pawl lever and against the teeth or" the ratchet wheel 70 for the remaining active part of the subtracting movement of said pawl lever.

T he plate is secured to the fixed inner coinway plate 4 8 and can be made adjustable thereon to adjust the angular position of said plate and thereby to adjust the angular increment subtracted from the ratchet wheel 70 for each actuation of the solenoid 90. Instead of making the plate 536 adjustable for this purpose, the solenoid can be provided with means for adjusting the length of its stroke, or if desired, both the plate and the solenoid stroke can be made adjustable.

The solenoid 9%} is controlled from an electrical tirning device 192 (FIG. 1), which may be of any well-known construction in which a circuit is closed momentarily at predetermined time intervals, and which can be operated to close simultaneously the circuits of a plurality of solenoids in a number of display devices it} of a bank connected into the circuit of the timing device. For that purpose, each solenoid 99 is connected into a circuit loop which includes in series with the solenoid a microswitch P93 (FIGS. 6 and 7) and the circuit loops of the solenoids of the display devices 1-3 in a bank are connected in parallel to the circuit of the timing device 1432. The microswitch 193 in a display device ill is open when the display device is inactive, so that the periodic switch closing impulses from the timing device 162 are not received by this display device, while the other display devices which are in display operation and, therefore, have their microswitches L73 closed, will have their solenoids 9d energized by these impulses, causing thereby the ratchet wheels 7%} in the latter display devices to be turned back one increment.

it is desirable to have the timing device 102 connect the closed solenoid loop circuits momentarily into the circuit of the source of current at intervals which are less than the period of display time bought by a single coin. For example, if a single coin and a single actuation of the lever 55 moves the ratchet wheel 76 through an angle encompassed by four teeth to activate a display device for 24 hours, the timing device iii-2 could be operable every six hours to connect the closed loops of the solenoids 98 into the circuit of the source of current and, therefore, to energize momentarily the solenoids at six hour intervals.

The periodic energization of the normally dormant solenoid 9% in a display device id as described, will cause the plunger $2 thereof to be depressed against the action of the spring 97 from the position shown in FIG. 3, and this causes the pawl 98 to ride idly along the edge of the plate 95 until it falls into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 7%. Continued movement of the solenoid plunger 2 will rotate in a positive manner the ratchet wheel 7% counterclockwise (FIGS. 3 and 4) an angular increment which is subtracted from the display time stored clockwise in the ratchet wheel. The solenoid 99 is immediately deenergized causing its plunger 92 and the pawl 98 to be returned under the action of the spring 97 to the inactive position shown in FIG. 3.

The microswitch H33 in series with the solenoid in the circuit loop of said solenoid is secured to the underside of the base plate 3t; and has a spring arm (FIG. 6) carrying a roller ill and a tappet 112 connected to one of the contacts inside the housing of the microswitch. The microswitch N53 is normally open by internal spring I :1 when the display device it is inactive but is automatically closed by the deposition or" a coin and the actuation of the lever 55 for a period bought by the coin. At the end of that period, the microswitch W3 is automatically opened.

For closing the microswitch 1% through the actuation of the lever 55', there is provided a latch device mounted on the upper side of the base plate 39 and comprising a latch lever 113 (FZGS. 3 and 4) pivotaliy secured at 114 to the upper end of a fXBfl post 115, and pressed into hori- Zontal position a spring 116. This latch lever 113 has a cam trigger 17 near one end of the lever and a catch lid at the other end. A latch arm E9 on the upper side of the base plate 5%) is secured to the upper end of a vertical rocker shaft 121, which is journalled in a hearing secured to said base plate and which extends to the underside of said base plate. Connected to the lower end of the shaft 321 is an arm i123 (FIGS, 6 and 7) adated u on actuation of the lever 55 to engage the o the microswitch N93 and thereby to move the d carrying said roll r into position to push d2 inwardly and thereby to close said micro- A spring 124 connected to the free end or the to the base plate 3d urges the arm away from swit h. arm 123 the roller all and the latch arm 11% away from the catch 118 on the latch lever 113.

Rigid with the lever 55 is an mm (FIGS. 3 and 4) uted to engage the latch arm H9 and to move said tch arm into position to be caught by the latch lever 113 and to stop thereby further rotation of the lever 55. This arm 125 is keyed to the shaft 52, so that the arm moves angularly about e xis of said shaft with the lever 55 and extends in such angular position in relation to the lever, that when the lever is near the end of its downward stroke, the arm 125 will engage the latch arm 119 and move it underneath the latch lever ill?) until it is caught by said lever. t the same time, the arm 123 below the base plate 3%; is moved from the position shown in PEG. 6 counterclockwise to close the microswitch 1&3 tirough the action of the roller Eli and the spring arm lit as described. The microswitch 1 33 will remain in losed position by the holding action of the latch lever 113.

The subtracting action of the solenoid 9% on the ratchet wheel 79 rotates the wheel counterclockwise (FIGS. 3 and 4) step by step by the action of the timing device 3.32 (FIG. 1) until a latch release pin I126 on the ratchet wheel engages the cam trigger 117 on the latch lever 113, whereupon the latch l ver is tilted counterclockwise the action of the spring 11%, and the latch arm 3.20 is released, as shown in FIG. 3. The released latch arm 319 under the action or" the spring 124 is moved into the position shown in FIG. 6, thereby causing the microswitch to be opened, and the display card to be ejected from the display device in the manner to be described. By this action, the display device 19 is deactivated until brought back into action by the insertion of a fresh coin and the time storing actuations of the lever 55.

The ratchet wheel 72; will remain in the inactive posiion shown in PEG. 3 with the latch lever 13.3 tilted, until a fresh coin is inserted and the lever 55 is actuated through full s roke. The actuation of the lever 55 through a logic stroke will rotate the ratchet wheel clockwise (FIG. a storing increment, as for example, an angular istance of four teeth limited by the engagement of the o m 2.25 with the latch arm 11?. Tms action causes the latch release pin no on the ratchet Wheel 79 to move from the latch lever holding position shown in FIG. 3 to the position shown in FIG. 4 before the lever 55 reaches the end of the stroke, causing thereby the latch lever 113 to return into horizontal position under the action of the spring 116. At the end of its stroke, the lever 55 engaging the released latch arm 119 will push the arm into catch engagement with the latch lever 113 against the action of the spring 124 and will thereby close the microswitch 1%, as described.

The deposit of a succession of coins and the corresponding actuation of the lever 55 will rotate th richet wheel 7% clockwise FIG. 4 step by step, by increments, for example, of four ratchet teeth, until the ratchet wheel has rotated almost a complete revolution through an angular distance corresponding, for example, to 120 ratchet teeth.

The cam trigger 117 is shouldered on its right side (FIG. 4) to serve as a stop for the latch releasing pin 12.6 at the end of approximately one complete time storing revolution of the ratchet wheel equivalent, for example, to 120 teeth on the ratchet wheel 7% The limit of storing rotation of the ratchet wheel '79 might be sli htly less than one complete revolution, but the full permissible storage time, for example, thirty days, can be obtained by increasing the number of teeth the ratchet wheel, as for example, from 120 teeth to a slightly larger number, to compensate for the deficiency.

When the display device 1% is in active time-stored condition, the card 139 is located behind the window structure 15, as shown in FIGS. 10 and ll. The slit 34- (FIGS. 7 and 8) in the top horizontal piece 33 of th window frame 31 through which the card 136 has been inserted is closed by the gate 35, when the display device is in this active condition, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 11. The slit 34 is closed not only during the active display periods of the display device, as described, but also, during the inactive periods after the stored time has been consumed, as will be described.

The gate 35 is in the form of a rectangular plate having a pair of parallel slanted slots 131 through which a pair of double headed pins 132, secured to the top horizontal piece 33, extend, and is urged by a spring 134 into position to close the slit 34, as shown in FIG. 8. For moving the gate 35 into open position against the action of the sprin 13 upon deposit of a coin and the actuation of the lever 55, there is provided a vertical shaft 136 (FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 8 and 11) on one side of the window frame 31 supported by the top horizontal piece 33 and by a bottom horizontal piece 137 of said frame and extending through said bottom piece and through the base plate 39. Secured to the lower end of the shaft 136 below the base plate 39 is an arm 1:18 (FIGS. 6, 7 and 8) connected to the arm 12.3 by a link 14 1} having pivotal connection to the outer ends of said arms. Movement of the latch arm 119 into engagement with the catch end of the latch lever 113 by the action of the lever 55 towards the end of its stroke will rotate the shaft 136 counterclockwise (FIG. 6).

The upper end of the shaft 136 has splined thereto a cam arm 142 (FIGS. 6, 7, 8, 11 and 12) which rotates with the shaft to engage the left hand end of the gate 35 and to push said gate to the right by the action of the lever 55 near the end of its stroke. This action will move the gate 35 diagonally away from the slit 34 against the action of the spring 134 and will clear thereby said slit for the insertion of a display card. therein. When the display device is inactive in the position shown in PEG. 6, the cam arm 142 is in the inactive position shown in FIG. 6 and the gate 35 is in the slit closing position to prevent insertion of a card into the slit.

After the lever has been actuated after a coin deposit and after the gate 35 has been moved into position to clear the slit 34 as the result of this lever actuation, a card is inserted through said slit for display through the window 15. After the card has been so inserted, the gate 8 35 is released to close the slit 34 under the action of the spring 134, so that for the duration of the display period paid for, the slit remains closed against tampering with the inserted display card.

For releasing the gate 35 to that it can return under the action of the spring 134 into position to close the slit 34, the shaft 136 has one section (FIGS. 5 and 12) which is round for hearing support and which is secured at its upper end to a collar 146 and an upper section 14-7 of polygonal cross-section, shown specifically square. This square shaft section 147 extends through a correspondingly shaped hole in the hub of the cam arm 142 to spline said cam arm to said shaft section for rotation therewith while permitting said cam arm to slide along said shaft section. A spring 159 bearing against the collar 14s and against the cam arm 142 maintains said cam arm in elevated position against the top horizontal piece 33 or" the window frame 31 and at a level to cooperate with the gate 35 in the manner described, and can be pushed down against the action of the spring to release the gate and to permit it to be restored to slit closing position by the action of the spring 134. For that purpose, a hollow push button 151 extends through the top horizontal piece 33 of the window frame 31 and bears a ainst the to of the cam arm 142, as shown in FIGS. 11

and 12. This push button 151 is slidable over the shaft section 147 and when depressed, it moves the cam arm 142 into a position below the gate 35 and thereby permits said gate to slide over sm'd cam arm into slit closing position by the action of the spring 134, as shown in FIG. 8.

By means of the gate release mechanism described, after the display device has been set-up for a period of display by the insertion of coins and the actuations of the lever 55, and after a card has been inserted in the slit 34 in front of the window 15, the push button 151 is pressed downwardly to cause the gate 35 to close the slit. The gate 35 remains in this closed position until the end of the period of display has ended, whereupon the card is ejected and the cam arm 142 is restored into position in readiness to move the gate into open position upon the deposit of a fresh coin and the actuation of the lever 55.

The means for holding the card in display position behind the window 15 during the paid display period and for automatically ejecting the card at the end of said period comprises a card holder 153 (FIGS. 5, 9 and 10) provided with a channel 154 for receiving one side edge margin of the card 139 and secured to the side piece 155 of the window frame 31. The other side edge margin of the card is held by a channel 156 in the fla 36, which is affixed to the collar 146 secured to the upper section of the shaft 136 and to a collar 5.57 secured to lower section of said shaft. The two channels 154 and 156 are in alignment with each other and with the slit 34, when the flap as is in card receiving position shown in FIG. 16 to receive the card 130 inserted through said slit.

When the latch arm 119 is caught by the catch 113 on the latch lever 113 by the actuation of the lever 55 after the insertion of a coin as described and as shown in FIG. 4, the shaft 136 supporting the flap 36 is in rotative position to align the channel 155 with the channel 154 to hold the display card 13d behind the window 15, as shown in FIG. 10. At the end of a paid display period, the release of the latch arm 119 from the catch 118 on the latch lever 113 permits the spring 124 (FIG. 6) through the linkage 123, 13% and 149 to rotate the shaft 136 clockwise and this causes the flap 36 to rotate clock-wise from the position shown in 10 to the position shown in FIG. 9. By this action, the card 13a) on display will be pulled out of the channels 15d and 156 and the display card released thereby will fall through the open bottom of the display device through the chute formed by a stack of the display devices It? and into the bin 25. A leaf spring 159 secured at one end to the bottom horizontal piece '137 and bent upwardly towards its other end, serves to lift the card 13%) and to assist thereby in releasing the card from the channel 155 as the flap 3% is moving towards position shown in FIG. 9, and also serves to support the car beyond the frame to assure the dropping of the card clear through the chute.

The rotation of the shaft 136 into card ejecting position shown in PEG. will cause the cam arm 142, which so far, has been pressed against the lower side of the gate 35 by the depression of the button 151, as described, to rotate clockwise from the position shown in H6. 8 t0 the position shown in FIG. 6, clear of the gate, thereby causing the cam arm to rise under the action of the spring against the underside of the top horizontal piece 33 of the window frame 3%, as shown in FIG. 12. in this position or" the cam arm M2, the gate 35 will be in slit closing position shown in FIG. 6 in preparation for the next coin depositing operation.

'rlthough the operation of the display device is behaved apparent from the foregoing description, it is herein briefly summarized.

insertion of a coin and operation of the lever 55 will rotate the ratchet wheel 79 cloclqw-ise from the position shown in FIG. 3 to the position shown in FIG. 4 through increment, which in the specific form shown is equal to four ratchet teeth. This action will close the microswitch 1% in the loop circuit of the solenoid 9i and will connect the solenoid into the circuit of the timing device 1 32. At the same time, the gate 35 will move into position to open the slit 34 and the flap 35 will move into position to receive a card inserted through said slit. After the card is inserted through the slit 34- in front of the window 15, the button 151 will be depressed to cause the gate to return to slit closing position and at the same time to lock the gate against tampering until the end of the coin paid period.

At intervals, as for example, every six hours, the timing device 162 sends out a current impulse, which closes the circuit of the solenoid 9G and rotates the ratchet wheel 7% counterclockwise (FIG. 4) to subtract from the time storing increment, an angular increment equivalent, for example, to one ratchet tooth.

At the end of the time period paid, the energization of the solenoid 9%} at the end of that period releases the latch arm 1 19 from the catch 1-13 on the latch lever 113 by means of the latch release pin 126 on the ratchet wheel 7%? and this opens the microswitch 1G3, ejects the card on display and moves the gate 35 into position to open the slit 3 The display device ill is now in condition for the next coin inserting operation.

While the invent-ion has been described with particular reference to a specific embodiment, it is to be understood that it is not to be limited thereto but is to be construed broadly and restricted solely by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A time controlled device for displaying an externaliy inserted card for a predetermined period without the use of a clock type escapement mechanism comprising til re storing means, a coin mechanism, means operable in response to the deposition or" a coin in said coin mechanis for operating said time storing means into condition to store therein an increment of movement corresponding to a predeter lined period of display and for setting said device for visible card display action, a normally dormant mechanism for subtracting at predetermined intervals increments of movements from said stored increment of movement, a normally dormant device for operating said subtracting mechanism at predetermined intervals with intervening periods less than the predetermined period or" display bought by the coin, and means automatically operable when all of the stored increment of mo ement has been subtracted for concealing the card on display from view.

2. A device as described in claim 1, wherein said time storing mechanism comprises a storing wheel, which is rotated from an initial position in one direction through said increment of movement corresponding to a predetermined period of display, and said subtracting mechanism rotates said storing wheel in the opposite direction through said subtracting increments at said intervals, until said wheel reaches said initial position, said card concealing means being automatically operable when said wheel reaches said initial position.

3. A device for displaying a card as described in claim 1, wherein said time storing niecharism comprises a storing ratchet wheel and a pawl for moving said wheel from an initial position in one direction through said increment of movement corresponding to a predetermined period of display, and said subtracting mechanism comprises a second pawl for rotating said storing wheel in the opposite direction through said subtracting increments at said intervals, and a solenoid energized from said timing device at szu'd intervals for actuating said second pawl, said card concealing means being automatically operable when said wheel reaches said initial position.

4. A device for displaying a card for a predetermined period without the use of a clock t pe escapement mechanism comprising a window, means operative to support an externally inserted card behind said w'mdow for display, said means being normally inoperative, means including a positively driven time accumulator wheel operative in a first rotative direction for rendering said card supporting means operative for a predetermined period, and norm-ally dormant means automatically operable to index said wheel intermittently in the opposite direction, t or rendering said card supporting means inoperative again.

5. A device for displaying a card as described in claim 4, wherein said automatically operable means operates to eject the card from behind said window at the end of said period.

6. A device for displaying a card comprising a window, means defining a slit behind said window for the insertion of a card Lherein into display position behind said window, a gate normally closing said slit, a coin mechanism, means operable in response to the deposition of a coin in said mechanism for moving said gate into position to open said slit for the insertion of a card therein, means for moving said gate into slit closing position after a coin has been deposited in said mechanism and a card has been inserted through said slit into said device, and means automatically operable at the end of a predetermined peri d following the deposit or" a coin for ejecting the card from behind said window while maintaining said gate in closed position until the next coin depositing operation.

7. A device for playing a card comprising a window, means for holding a card behind said window incluchng a fixed member on one side of the window to removably hold one side edge or" the card and a flap secured to a shaft on the other side of the window and having a member movable with the flap to removably hold the other side edge of the card, said flap being movable about the axis of said shaft to brin the movable card holding member thereon in and out of card holding registry with the fixed card holding member, means defining a slit behind said window in registry with said card holding members when said members are in card holding registry, a coin mechanism, means operable in response to the deposition of a coin in the coin mechanism for setting the display device for card display action for a predetermined period, and including means for rotating said shaft to turn said flap so that the card holding member on said flap is in card holding registry with said fixed card holding member, and means automatically operable at the end of said period for rotating said shaft to turn said flap in position in which the card holding member on said flap is out of card holding registry with au'zgeea ll said fixed card holding member to move the card on display out of display position.

8. A device for displaying a card comprising a time storing mechanism, a coin mechanism, a solenoid, a switch in series with said solenoid in a circuit loop, said switch being normally open, means operable in response to the deposition of a coin in said coin mechanism (1) for closing said switch, (2) for operating said time storing mechanism into condition to store therein an incre ment of movement corresponding to a predetermined period of display and (3) for setting said device for visible card display action, a mechanism operated from said solenoid for subtracting increments of movements from said stored increments of movement, a timing device for connecting said loop to a source of current at predetermined intervals with intervening periods less than the predetermined period of display bought by the coin to energize said solenoid momentarily at said ntervals, and means automatically operable when all of the stored increment of movement has been subtracted for concealing the card on display from view and for simultaneously opening said switch.

9. A device for displaying a card comprising atime storing mechanism comprising a ratchet wheel and a pawl cooperating therewith, a coin mechanism, a lever. carrying said pawl for movement along a portion of the periphcry of said ratchet wheel upon the swinging of said lever about a pivot support, said lever being normally looked and being released for swinging movement upon the insert-ion of a coin in said coin mechanism, said lever being swingable through a definite stroke when released causing said wheel through said pawl to rotate from an initial position one angular storing increment and at the same time to set said device in condition to receive a card in display position, a second pawl movable along another portion of the periphery of said ratchet wheel and operable to rotate said wheel in the opposite direction an increment smaller than said first mentioned increment, a solenoid for operating said second pawl, a switch in series with said solenoid in a circuit loop and nonmally open, means automatically operable when said lever is operated through a stroke for latching said switch into closed position, a timing device for connecting said loop to a source of current at predetermined intervals with intervening periods less than the predetermined period of display bought by the coin to energize said solenoid momentarily at said intervals and thereby to cause said wheel to rotate in said opposite direction through the smaller increments, until said ratchet wheel is returned to said initial position, and means automatically operable when said ratchet wheel returns to said initial position for taking said card out of display position and for simultaneously releasing said switch from latched closed position into open position.

10. In combination, a bank of devices for displaying a card carrying a message, an advertisement or the like, each of said devices comprising a time storing mecharn's-m, a coin mechanism, means operable in response to the depositions of a coin in sm'd coin mechanism for operating said time storing mechanism into condition to store therein an increment of movement corresponding to a predetermined period of display and for setting up said device for visible card display action, a mechanism for subtracting at predetermined intervals increments of movements from said stored increment of movement, and means automatically operable when all of the stored increment of movement has been subtracted for concealing the card on display from view, and a single timing device ior all of said card displaying devices for operating all of said subtracting mechanisms at predetermined intervals with intervening periods less than the predetermined period of display bought by each coin.

11. In combination, a bank of devices for displaying for a predetermined period determined without the use 1.2 a card carrying a message, an advertisement or the like,

each of said devices comprising a time storing mechanism includim a storing ratchet wheel and a pawl for moving said wheel from an initial position in one direction, a coin mechanism, means operable upon the deposit of a coin in said coin mechanism for turning said ratchet wheel by means of said pawl in said direction through an angular increment corresponding to a predetermined period of display and for setting up said device for visible card display action, a mechanism for subtracting at predetermined intervals angular increments of movement from said ratchet wheel in the opposite direction and comprising a second pawl coacting with said ratchet wheel, and a solenoid for operating said second pawl when said solenoid is energized, and a single timing device for all of said card displaying devices for energizing all or said solenoids at one time at predetermined intervals with intervening periods less than the predetermined period of display bought by each coin.

12. A device for displaying an externally inserted card of a clock type escapernent mechanism, comprising card receiving means operable to support a card for visible display action, a coin mechanism, means including a positively driven time accumulator wheel operative in a first rotative direction in response to the deposition of one or more coins in said coin mechanism for setting said car-d receiving means for visible card display action for a succession of predetermined periods reflecting the 11thber of coins deposited, normally dormant means for periodically indexing said wheel in the opposite rotative direction, and means automatically operable at the end of said succession of periods for operating said card receiving means to remove the card on display.

13. The device as defined in claim 12 disposed in conjunction with a number of other devices of like kind to form a bank of such devices, and means for operating said normally dormant means of the devices constituting said bank of units simultaneously.

14. A time controlled device for displaying an intelligence-bearing card or the like comprising a window, means for supporting a card behind said window for a predetermined period, a time storing mechanism for determining the length of time said card is displayed, a coin mechanism, means operable in response to the deposition of a coin in said coin mechanism for operating said time storing mechanism, said time storing mechanism including a rotatably mounted time storage wheel having a zero position, means for moving said wheel away from said zero position in a first direction upon the deposition of a coin in said coin mechanism, thus to store therein an creme-ht of movement corresponding to a predetermined period or" card display, said wheel being successively moved in said first direction as additional coins may be deposited, the total distance said wheel is rotated in said first direction bearing a relation to the number of coins deposited in said device, normally dormant, non-spring means for rotating said wheel in the opposite direction at spaced intervals of time to ultimately bring said wheel back to said zero position, and means upon said wheel reaching said zero position to bring about operation or" said card supporting means to cause removal of said card from said window.

15. The device as defined in claim 14 disposed in conjunction with a number of devices of like kind to form a bank of such devices, and means for simultaneously operating said non-spm'ng means of said devices constituting said bank of devices.

Cooper Aug. 16, 1887 Lucia Sept. 16, 1941 

1. A TIME CONTROLLED DEVICE FOR DISPLAYING AN EXTERNALLY INSERTED CARD FOR A PREDETERMINED PERIOD WITHOUT THE USE OF A CLOCK TYPE ESCAPEMENT MECHANISM COMPRISING TIME STORING MEANS, A COIN MECHANISM, MEANS OPERABLE IN RESPONSE TO THE DEPOSITION OF A COIN IN SAID COIN MECHANISM FOR OPERATING SAID TIME STORING MEANS INTO CONDITION TO STORE THEREIN AN INCREMENT OF MOVEMENT CORRESPONDING TO A PREDETERMINED PERIOD OF DISPLAY AND FOR SETTING SAID DEVICE FOR VISIBLE CARD DISPLAY ACTION, A NORMALLY DORMANT MECHANISM FOR SUBTRACTING AT PREDETERMINED INTERVALS INCREMENTS OF MOVEMENTS FROM SAID STORED INCREMENT OF MOVEMENT, A NORMALLY DORMANT DEVICE FOR OPERATING SAID SUBTRACTING MECHANISM AT PREDETERMINED INTERVALS WITH INTERVENING PERIODS LESS THAN THE PREDETERMINED PERIOD OF DISPLAY BOUGHT BY THE COIN, AND MEANS AUTOMATICALLY OPERABLE WHEN ALL OF THE STORED INCREMENT OF MOVEMENT HAS BEEN SUBTRACTED FOR CONCEALING THE CARD ON DISPLAY FROM VIEW. 